NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
May 12, 2008
Success Highways Program Implemented in Nevada State College Crossroads Dropout Prevention Program
Clark County School District Gains Powerful Tool to Help Kids Succeed in Life
Denver, CO – May 12, 2008 – ScholarCentric is pleased to announce the implementation of the Success Highways dropout prevention program as part of a collaborative program between Clark County School District (NV) and Nevada State College, located in Las Vegas. Approximately 200 middle school students are taking part in four sessions which are being taught by Nevada State College staff, assisted by middle school mentors and counselors.
Funded by a grant obtained by Dr. Rene Cantu, vice president of Multicultural Affairs at Nevada State College, selected at-risk 8th grade students from 13 middle schools began to participate in the Crossroads program in early February. “Although many students don’t officially drop out of school until high school, the student’s disengagement with their schoolwork can almost always be traced back to an earlier age,” Cantu said. “If the problem isn’t addressed prior to attending high school, those students will almost surely be overwhelmed once they enter high school and are very likely to give up and drop out. That’s why we chose to target the 8th grade.”
The Success Highways program has been shown to effectively increase the GPAs of at-risk students. Through the Success Highways aspect of Crossroads, students are learning non-academic skills such as time and stress management and focus on skills such as motivation, resiliency, and self-esteem and decision making tactics. Over the course of four months, each of the selected youth receive mentoring, tutoring and motivation training to help them recover from their current academic path and successfully graduate from high school. Students selected for the program had been retained in the eighth grade the previous year.
Grant funding for the Crossroads program was provided by Randy Garcia, founder and CEO of the Investment Counsel Company, an investment management consulting firm. A resident of Las Vegas since 1957, Garcia has sponsored several enrichment programs for at-risk youth through the Clark County School District and the Nevada System of Higher Education. He also serves on the board of directors for several community organizations including, the Nevada Community Foundation, Scoutreach Program for the Las Vegas Area Council of the Boy Scouts and the Council for a Better Nevada.
About ScholarCentric
ScholarCentricTM is a K-12 educational publishing company focused on helping students stay in school and achieve academic success. The company’s flagship product, Success Highways, is an innovative, research-based program designed to help transition middle and high school students into the higher grades and develop the skills they need to learn the rigorous coursework required to achieve a high school diploma. With Success Highways, students stay in school, score higher on achievement tests, and prepare for future education. This innovative program is aligned with state standards and was developed from the results of 15 years of research at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a seven-year pilot program in an urban school district. For more information, visit www.ScholarCentric.com.
About The Denver Arts & Technology Academy (D.A.T.A.)
The Denver Arts & Technology Academy was founded by a coalition of dedicated parents and community leaders in 2000. Authorized by the Denver Public School District, and managed by Mosaica Education, Inc., the Denver Arts and Technology Academy is characterized by an active and engaged community of parents, teachers, and students. The curriculum at DATA combines effective learning strategies with scientifically proven academic programs, including Mosaica Education’s acclaimed Paragon® curriculum. The school boasts a talented and highly diverse staff that reflects the community that it serves. DATA maintains low student-to-teacher ratios, which have been proven to increase academic achievement. For more information, visit www.DenverATAcademy.org.
About Mosaica Education
Mosaica Education, Inc., is one of the nation’s leading private operators of K-12 public schools, bringing the benefits of competition and private sector efficiency to the public school system. Mosaica-managed schools have yielded superior academic and financial results to date by utilizing a unique school design, which combines a proprietary curriculum called Paragon® with state-of-the-art technology and sound fiscal practices. Mosaica Education also provides after-school and summer tutoring to students; assists public and private schools in the United States in strengthening their operations, professional development, and curriculum; and helps other nations create their own schools of choice. For more information, visit www.MosaicaEducation.com.
For more information, press only:
Carol Ann Waugh, VP Marketing, cwaugh@scholarcentric.com
ScholarCentric
2406 W. 32nd Ave., Suite C
Denver, CO 80211
www.ScholarCentric.com
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